Growing up, Taylor Yu grappled with ankyloglossia, a condition that affects speech ability and is otherwise known as tongue-tie. As a result, Taylor often felt like she didn’t have a voice or community that she belonged in. Speaking fluently was physically challenging for her, which discouraged her from speaking up in classrooms in fear that she would mispronounce a word or get bullied for her speech impediment. Her tongue-tie was an invisible barrier that negatively impacted her self-confidence, preventing her from sharing her ideas or standing up for herself and her beliefs. She was diagnosed with ankyloglossia when she was three years old and subsequently underwent surgery to remove the tongue-tie when she was eight. It took dozens of speech therapy sessions and practice; however, slowly but surely, her speech impediment started to disappear. By age ten, she could speak completely normally, and no one would’ve guessed her tongue had ever been tied. Since the surgery, Taylor has turned her speech impediment—and her greatest insecurity—into a platform and a voice for good.
“One of the biggest challenges that came along with my speech impediment was the lack of community to support me through my struggles. Thus, I was determined to change this and create a safe space for other girls facing similar battles,” says Taylor. In her sophomore year of high school, she founded Girls Who Inspire, a podcast that helps girls find their own voices and reminds them that they are not alone. Today, her podcast offers over 30 published episodes featuring young leaders and professionals whose voices come from all across the world. As a result, her podcast has reached listeners everywhere, from Poland to the U.K. and from Belgium to Brazil. Through Girls Who Inspire, her mission is simple: to inspire girls to use their voice as a tool to pursue their passions, and fearlessly so.
“The most impactful moment of my podcast experience was connecting with a listener who was inspired by Girls Who Inspire and later went on to create her own podcast. This experience reaffirmed why community and representation matter: how a guest speaker’s work and advice can spark initiative and confidence,” says Taylor. Seeing how her conversations with amazing individuals can empower others to gain confidence and pursue their passions as they create passion projects of their own has been rewarding as the founder of Girls Who Inspire.
Outside of Girls Who Inspire, Taylor has sought out opportunities that allow her to lead, create, and inspire. She has published two children’s books, Biomolecules for Lunch and Smart Savings at Lunch, in an effort to make a difference. Her children’s books have been given multiple 5-star reviews by readers and parents and are currently being distributed nationwide to underserved elementary schools. Her books are available for purchase on Amazon. All proceeds from the books go towards Girls Who Inspire.
“Through every encounter, I have realized that leadership and empowerment come in a variety of forms,” says Taylor. Whether through continuing to grow Girls Who Inspire or providing unique experiences for individuals, she intends to continue to channel her interests with the aim of creating lasting impacts and spaces for individuals to unlock their highest potentials. If you are interested in collaborating or learning more about Girls Who Inspire, feel free to reach out at info@girlswhoinspire.org or follow their Instagram page @girlswhoinspireorg.
